The hook is the half point added to a line, as in -6.5 or over 44.5. It means the bet can't push.
It matters most around key numbers. Being "on the wrong side of the hook", taking -3.5 when the favorite wins by 3, is one of the most frustrating losses in betting.
Some sportsbooks let you buy a half point for a worse price. Buying onto or off a key number is the only time that's usually worth it.
How it works
A line on a whole number, like -3, can end in a push. Adding the half point removes that possibility, so every bet is either a win or a loss.
Most of the time a hook barely matters. It matters a lot when it sits next to one of the key numbers. Moving from -3.5 to -3 turns a loss into a push every time the favorite wins by exactly 3, which happens in roughly 15% of NFL games.
Buying points. Many sportsbooks let you move a line by half a point in exchange for a worse price. The extra cost raises your break even win rate, so it's rarely worth it except on or off 3 and 7 in football.
The same idea applies to totals. An over 44.5 needs 45 points, while an over 44 pushes at exactly 44.
Examples
- Example 1
You buy the Chiefs from -3 (-110) to -2.5 (-125). Your break-even win rate rises from about 52.4% to 55.6% in exchange for the extra half point.
- Example 2
You bet the over 44.5. The game ends 24-20, 44 points. You lose by the hook. At over 44 it would have been a push.
Common questions
What does losing by the hook mean?
Losing because of the half point. For example, taking -3.5 and seeing your team win by exactly 3.
Is buying a half point worth it?
Usually not, because of the higher price. The main exception is buying onto or off 3 or 7 in the NFL.